WORLD ROUTES 2011: William Pearson Takes Flight to Birmingham Airport

Respected route development professional William Pearson is making the short journey from Manchester Airport to Birmingham Airport after joining the Midlands’ facility as its new Head of Route Development with the job of enhancing its airline partners and route network. Currently Head of Aviation Sales at Manchester Airport, Will has an established background in aviation and has been a familiar face within the industry and at Routes events for some years. He will start his new role immediately after this year’s World Routes.

Will is actually no stranger to Birmingham Airport either, having previously set up and managed the Birmingham arm of Airport Coordination Ltd (ACL) in 1994, providing advice on airline planned schedules and coordination services . He has also worked for British Airways in a sales role.

Commenting on the appointment, Martyn Lloyd, Air Services Development Director, Birmingham Airport, explained: “William is a strategic appointment and will take forward our route development strategy, playing an important part in building relationships with potential new airlines to grow our route network as well as working with our existing business partners.”

Will, 44, will take a far more assertive position in the market place, being strategic in the airport’s approach to identifying where demand is and targeting new opportunities with new and existing airlines accordingly. He will be in charge of a team of two, who will be responsible for gathering research and data from industry about the various market demands, including research from Midlands’ businesses and travel trade about air travel needs and habits.

This will mean he will quite often be on the road and overseas, attending the industry’s main global trade events, where he will act as the Airport’s key sales representative, getting in front of key decision makers at prospective airlines to sell and market the Airport’s key strengths, as well as leading on negotiations. Will’s appointment is key part of the airport’s strategy for development and meeting its aspirations of handling 18 million passengers by 2020.

Speaking to The HUB ahead of World Routes, Will said: “I’m very excited about joining Birmingham Airport and getting stuck into my new role. There’s so much potential in the Midlands market and I’ll arrive with a great enthusiasm to see Birmingham grow. I’m confident that my knowledge of Birmingham, coupled with my years of experience in the aviation sector will provide an excellent base on which to build.”